The Ligue 1 match between Olympique Lyonnais and Bastia was "abandoned after supporters invaded the pitch during halftime,” according to Gregor Clauss of LYON CAPITALE. The match kicked off 50 minutes late because of fan incidents. The first half was played “without encumbrances,” but OL Manager Bruno Génésio said that his players “did not want to start the game after the abuse they suffered during warmups.” At halftime, OL goalkeeper Anthony Lopes was “accosted” by a Stade Armand Cesari security official and “words were exchanged.” That prompted a “general brawl and a second pitch invasion,” which involved Bastia fans and security officials fighting OL players. French Sport Secretary Thierry Braillard denounced the “unacceptable actions” and said that sanctions will be taken against Bastia and the “trouble makers.” The Bastia public prosecutor “seized the case and opened an investigation” (LYON CAPITALE, 4/17).
RISKING HEAVY PENALTIES: LE MONDE’s Clément Guillou wrote the French Professional Football League (LFP) disciplinary committee will “decide the fate” of the match, as well as that of Bastia. The Corsican club, “already under the threat of a point deduction because of past behavior of supporters, could be heavily penalized.” LFP President Nathalie Boy de la Tour said, “We deplore the fact that SC Bastia is giving a horrible image to our football. It hurts the image of professional football, which does not deserve that.” The “choice of words is important:” the LFP’s president directly addressed Bastia, “not simply its supporters” (
LE MONDE, 4/17).
EUROPE REACTS: L’ÉQUIPE reported the incidents at the OL-Bastia match were “widely reported” by the European press. German newspaper Die Welt ran the headline “Scandal in France.” Der Spiegel reported about “chaotic scenes,” and Bild wrote about a “savage situation.” Italian paper La Gazzetta dello Sport wrote of “madness at Bastia” on its website. England’s The Mirror and London Independent wrote of “sad” and “heavy” scenes, while the The Sun described the match as “shocking” (L’ÉQUIPE, 4/17).
